Uncoupling mechanism



A. J. BAZELEY LmcoUPLINe MECHANISM Filed June 29, 195'! 2 snaps-sheet 1 Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNCOUPLING MECHANISM Arthur J. Bazeley, deceased, late of .Shaker Heights, Ohio, by Ruth McKean Bazeley, executrix, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to National Malleable and Steel Castings Oompany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 29, 1931, Serial No. 150,955

18 Claims.

This invention relates to uncoupling mechanisms 'for railway car couplers.

In the usual form of uncoupling mechanism for rotary operated couplers it is common practice to support the uncoupling rod directly on the rotor lift lever which is operatively joined with the lock. In such instances the rod is supported on the lever at a point laterally of the center of the pivotal connection of the lever on the coupler and hence tends to tip the lever and cause hard operation thereof due to binding of the lever on adjacent parts of the coupler.

The present invention concerns a construction wherein the uncoupling rod is supported on a pivoted member operatively connected to the rotor lift lever which member is provided with a pivotal support of substantial width and constructed so as to adequately support the weight of the rod without tipping. In this manner the rotor lift lever is relieved ofthe weight of the rod and the only forces thereon are those rotating the lever during the uncoupling operation.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of an uncoupling mechanism embodying my invention applied to a car.

Figure 2 is a side view of the uncoupling mechanism and coupler.

Figure 3 is a side view of a modified form of the uncoupling mechanism.

.Figure 4 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, with the toggle link omitted.

Figure 5 is a view, of the intermediate member of the uncoupling mechanism shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3; and

Figure 6 is a view, of the intermediate member of the uncoupling mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings,

there is shown a portion of a conventional car structure having a coupler fitted for rotary operation mounted thereon. The coupler is provided with spaced lugs l3, l3 projecting downwardly from the underside thereof and joined by an integral sleeve 9. Extending through an opening in the sleeve and lugs is the shaft or bearing ll of member IS. The threaded portion it of shaft I4 is of smaller diameter than the bearing portion thereofv so that when nut I1 is tightened against washer iii a small amount of axial movement of the shaft may occur, thus assuring free rotation of the member l5.

Pivotally mounted on the outer cylindrical surface of sleeve 9, by means of its hook-shaped end I9 is a rotor lift lever 20, and at its other end lever 20 is operatively connected to the coupler lock by toggle link 22 in the usual manner.

Member I5 is formed with an eye 25 adapted to be engaged by the hook-portion 26 of the uncoupling rod 21. Extending downwardly from the forward part of eye 25 is a flange 28 having a pair of spaced lugs 29 and 30 extending laterally therefrom in the same direction from the member as shaft M. The upper lug 29 is of circular cross-section and passes into opening 3| in the downwardly extending portion 32 of lock lift lever 20. In the locked position of the coupler, lug 29 rests against the lower surface of opening 3|. The lower ing 30 is substantially of circular cross-section except for a portion 33 which is concavely curved to co-operate with the curved portion 34 of the lock lift lever during the uncoupling operation. Extending downwardly from the underside of the eye 25 is the lug 35 which is adapted to restrict the free upward swinging of,

member l5 and the lock lift lever 20 by contacting the hook-portion 26 of the uncoupling rod when such a swinging accidentally occurs.

The uncoupling rod extends laterally from member l5 and is supported at its outer end in bracket secured to the car framework. While there have been shown the same bracket and uncoupling rod as in Patent 2,0i1,807, which bracket has means thereon for preventing undesired swinging of the rod, it is to be understood that any suitable bracket or rod may be satisfactorily used. It will be observed that with the bracket and rod shown, the rod is not held rigidly in the bracket but is able to move laterally with lateral movements of the coupler.

In the operation of the mechanism the uncoupling rod is swung upwardly in a counterclockwise manner, as viewed-in Fig. 2, causing the hook-portion of the rod to pivot themember I5 about its shaft. As the rod is raised, lower lug 30 on the member l5 contacts the lock lift lever, causing it to swing upwardlyand, in turn, to raise the toggle link and effect either lockset position or full thrown position of the knuckle, as may be desired. Upon release of the rod, after moving the parts to either of the above positions, the book 26 will contact lug 35 at the rear of eye 25, thus limiting downward swinging of the rod to such an extent that it will not return to its original position. When the lock is released from its raised position, member I5 and hence lug 35 will rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and permit the uncoupling rod to complete its movement to its normal position. Consequently, it will be noted that, ii the lock lift lever due to movement of the car or otherwise tends to swing upwardly, thus lug will contact the hook-portion of the uncoupling rod and thus the inertia of the rod will tend to resist further upward movement of the lock lift lever to lockset position of the coupler. With the type of rod and bracket shown the rod cannot be turned unless the handle is first raised vertically to release the interlock between the rod and bracket and therefore the rod would serve as a positive means for preventing further upward movement of the lock lift lever after the lug 35 contacts the hook-portion 26 of the rod. It will also be noted that all of the eccentric forces produced by the uncoupling rod during the uncoupling operation, due to the weight of the rod supported at a distance laterally of sleeve 9, are exerted on member l5 which has a bearing of substantial width. Thus, only a lifting force is applied .to the lock lift lever and any tendency of lever 20 to tip laterally of the coupler during the uncoupling operation, is eliminated.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown a modified form of the invention in which the intermediate member 40 is altered slightly so as to co-operate with another type of lock lift lever 4|. As in the previous form, the spaced lugs l3, l3 of the coupler are connected by an integral sleeve 9 and are apertured to form a continuation of the opening in said sleeve, shaft 43 of the member 40 being adapted to fit into said opening. Member 40 is also provided with an eye 44 adapted to be engaged by the hook-portion 45 of the uncoupling rod 46. Projecting downwardly from eye 44 is the lug 41 adapted to be contacted by hook-portion 45 of the rod during accidental swinging upward of the lock lift member. Member 40 is also formed with a downward extension 48 having lugs 49 and 50 extending laterally therefrom, parallel to shaft 43, and adapted to co-operate with lock lift lever 41 during operation of the mechanism. The lower lug 50 is circular in cross-section and contacts the underside of a lateral extension 5| of the lock lift lever when member 40 is raised by the uncoupling rod. The upper lug 49 is also circular in cross-section and its chief function is to contact the lock lift lever during 'accidentalupward swinging of said lever so that lug 41 on eye 44 will contact the hookportion of the uncoupling rod to resist any further movement of the mechanism to lockset position of the coupler. Lug 49 also serves to prevent free swinging of the member 40. The upwardly extending portion 52 of the lock lift lever is joined in the usual manner with the lock by the toggle link 22, as in the embodiment previously described.

The operation of this form is similar to that of the first embodiment disclosed. As the handle of the operating rod is turned in a counter-clockwise direction the vhook-portion 45 pivots the member 40 which, in turn, raises the lock lift lever and the toggle link. After the handle has been raised sufficlently to effect either lockset position of the coupler or knuckle thrown position and the handle is released, it will not return to its original position due to contact between the uncoupling rod and lug 41 on the eye 44 of the intermediate member as previously explained.

In Fig. 5 is shown a detail view of member 40. and in Fig. 6 is a. detail view of the intermediate member IS. the main difference between the two members lying in the arrangement and spacing of the two laterally extending lugs of each.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a car coupler, a lock, supporting means depending from the underside of said coupler, a rotor lift lever pivotally mounted at one end on said means and at its other end operatively joined with said lock, and a member mounted at one end on said coupler for pivotal movement about the same axis of rotation as said lever, the other end of said member engaging said lever during pivotal movement of said member in one direction to move said lever and lock to unlocked position.

2. In a car coupler, a lock, supporting means depending from the underside of said coupler to the rear of said lock, a rotor lift lever pivotally mounted at one end on said means and at its other end operatively joined with said lock, and a member pivotally mounted on said supporting means for rotary movement during unlocking of said lock about the same axis as said lever, said member being adapted to engage said lever to move the latter to unlocked position.

3. In a car coupler, a lock, supporting means depending from the underside of said coupler, a rotor lift lever pivotally mounted at one end on said means. and at its other end operatively joined with said lock, a member having a shaft extending through said supporting means for pivotally mounting said member thereon for movement about the same axis as said lever, and means projecting laterally from said member and engaging said lever for causing pivotal movement of said lever simultaneous with movement of said member.

4. In an uncoupling mechanism for car coupler, a member pivotally mounted on the underside of the coupler and operatively connected with the lock thereof, an element pivotally mounted on said coupler for rotation about the same axis as said member, said element having a longitudinally extending projection lying adjacent said member, an uncoupling rod supported on said element, and means on said element comprising portions of said projection engaging said member for causing rotation thereof upon actuation of said element by said rod.

5. In an uncoupling mechanism, a car coupler including a lock, said coupler having a pair of apertured lugs depending from the underside thereof, a sleeve joining said lugs formed with an opening in line with said apertures, a. lever at one end pivotally mounted on said sleeve and at its other end operatively connected to said lock, and a member having a shaft extending through said apertures and opening for pivotally mounting said member, said member being adapted to engage said lever to rotate the same about said sleeve during operation of said mechanism.

6. In an uncoupling mechanism for car coupler, a member pivotally mounted on the underside of the coupler, an element having means thereon for pivotally mounting one end of said element on said coupler for movement about the same axis of rotation as said member and having a portion at the other end thereof adjacent said member, and means extending laterally from said ammo:

portion and adapted to engage said member for causing simultaneous rotation of said element;

and member.

' '7. In an uncoupling mechanism for car coupier, a member pivotally mounted on the under- 7 from said portion adapted to engage said member v to rotate the same upon rotation of said element.

8. In an uncoupling mechanism for car coupler, a member pivotally mounted on the under! side of the coupler, an element having means thereon for pivotally mounting said element on the coupler and having a portion adjacent said member, and a pair of lugs extending laterally from said portion adapted to engage saidmeme ber to rotate the same upon rotation of said ele-- eye portion adapted to receive an uncoupling rod,

and a lug extending from said eye adapted to engage said rod to limit rotation of said lever relative to said rod in one direction.

10. In an uncoupling mechanism, a car coupler including a look, a lever pivotally mounted on said coupler and operatively connected to said lock, a pivotally mounted member adjacent said lever having an eye portion, an uncoupling rod supported at one end by said eye portion, means engaging s id rod adapted to prevent undesired rotation thereof, a lug projecting from said eye portion adapted to engage said rod to limit relative movement between said rod and member, and interengaging means on said member and lever for rotating said lever upon rotation of saidmember when the latter is actuated by said rod,

said .interengaging means normally preventing movement of said lever and lock to unlocked position.

11. A rotor piece for railway car coupler comprisinga shaft for pivotal mounting on the coupler, an eye portion on one end of said shaft adapted to receive an end of an uncoupling rod, a flange extending downwardly and forwardly from said eye portion when said rotor is assembled in a coupler, and a lug projecting laterally of said flange adapted to operatively engage the rotor lever of the coupler.

12. A rotor piece for railway car coupler comprising a shaft for pivotal mounting on the coupler. an eye portion on one end of said shaft adapted to receive an end of an uncoupling rod, a flange extending downwardly and forwardly from said eye portion when said rotor is assembled in a coupler, and a pair of lugs projecting laterally of said flange adapted to operatively engage the a rotor lever of the coupler.

r 13. A rotor piece for railway car coupler comprising a shaft for pivotal mounting on the coupler, an eye portion on one end of said shaft adapted to receive an end of an uncoupling rod, a projection extending from said eye portion adapted to engage the uncoupling rod, 9. flange extending downwardly and forwardly from said eye portion when said rotor is assembled in a coupler, and 9. lug projecting laterally of said flange adapted to operatively engage the rotor lever of the coupler.

14. A car coupler having a rotor lever pivotally mounted on the underside thereof, said lever having an opening extending transversely therethrough, a member pivoted on said coupi er for movement about the same axis of rotation as said lever and lying adjacent said lever, and a lug extending laterally of said member and into said opening for causing simultaneous rotation of said lever and member upon rotation of one of said parts.

15. A car coupler having a rotor lever pivotally mounted on the underside thereof, said lever having a flange extending downwardly and forwardly from said pivotal connection, a member" pivoted on said coupler and lying adjacent said flange, and a pair of lugs extending laterally of said member and respectively overlying and underlying said flange for causing simultaneous rotation of said lever and member upon rotation of one of said parts.

16. In a car coupler, a lock, a rotor lift lever pivotally mounted on said coupler and connected tosaid lock, and a member pivotally supported at one end by said coupler for rotary movement about the same axis of rotation as said lever during unlocking of said lock, said member having means for sup orting an uncoupling rod and means extending forwardly from said pivotal support for operating said lever.

' 17. In a car coupler, a look, a rotor lift lever pivotally mounted on said coupler and connected to said lock, a member pivotally supported at one end by said coupler for movement about the same axis of rotation as said lever, means on said member for supporting an uncoupling rod, means at the other 'end of said member for operating said lever in. response to actuation of said member by said rod, and means on said member for limiting rotation of said lever relative to said rod in one direction.

18. In a car coupler, a lock, a rotor lift lever pivotally mounted on said coupler rearwardly of and connected to said lock, a member pivotally supported at one end by said coupler for rotary movement about the same axis of rotation as said lever during unlocking of said lock and having .means engageable by an uncoupling rod, and

means at the other end of said member for operating said lever in response to actuation of said member by said uncoupling rod. 

